On August 30, 2016, at 1801 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza was destroyed when it impacted the ground in a near vertical descent, likely as a result of a wake turbulence encounter on approach to landing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada. The thing that caught my attention was that the pilot who was killed was an experienced CFI and flight school owner, and the accident happened at his home base.
The Finer Points: Stay Awake
Key Takeaways:
- The fatal crash of an experienced pilot due to wake turbulence highlights how the "Murphy was wrong" phenomenon—where what can go wrong usually doesn't—leads to dangerous pilot complacency.
- Pilots often develop an "atrophy of vigilance" regarding wake turbulence because frequent exposure without incident reinforces a false sense of security, causing them to neglect strict avoidance procedures.
- To effectively avoid wake turbulence, pilots must learn to visualize wake movement and dissipation, and rigorously adhere to established safety procedures rather than relying on luck.
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